The Function of Poetry in a Child’s Education and Upbringing

The emphasis of Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) on teaching his father Abu Tālib’s poetry to children and Imām al-Sādiq’s (a.s.) recommendation to teach children al-‘Abdi’s poetry is an indication that the Ahlul Bayt’s viewpoint is that poetry has an important role and fundamental function, not only in the realm of culture and literature, but also in education and upbringing of all, the young generation in particular. Based on this guidance, it is a duty for the religious and devoted writers and poets to allocate a special chapter in their poetry books for children’s poetry.
Without doubt, it is a great and difficult task to compose poems for children, especially constructive and useful poems which can deliver high and lofty doctrinal, moral and social concepts skilfully and in a simple, eloquent and attractive form appropriate to the mind of children. This task is not easy for every poet to accomplish.
An important point that has been referred to in both of the above mentioned traditions is that the poems, in order to be useful for the young generation to enjoy utmost benefit from it, should be acceptable from an artistic point of view, it is also necessary that the poet himself enjoys religious commitment, as emphasized in the recommendations of the Imams regarding Abu Tālib and al-‘Abdi’s poems.
Secondly, the poems must contain information that children need in doctrinal, moral, and practical fields. The emphasis of Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) on teaching Abu Tālib’s poetry is because of both the religious commitment of the poet, and the abundant knowledge therein.
Thirdly, since the acquaintance of children with Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) has a great and constructive role in their life, the poems must address love for them and knowledge of them. This is the main reason for Imām al-Sādiq’s emphasis on teaching al-‘Abdi’s poetry to children The following are some lines of his long and beautiful elegy, translated from Arabic to English given as an example:¹
Is your love ailment and sickness cured?
By asking the address of the ruined house [of your sweat beloved]?